Rutland girls sign

Four Rutland softball players signed scholarships recently.


Pictured (seated) are Leighann Newberry (Gordon College), Sarah Ray (Manatee College), Amanda Sams (Gordon College), and Kelly Lineberger (GMC). Standing (left to right) are Coach Alley Carter (Gordon College), Athletic Director George Collins, Coach Tony Ray, Principal Gail Gilbert, Coach Amanda Maddox, and Coach Maria Lewis.

A career change?

Kyle Yawn is a talented tennis player and cross country runner. The Warner Robins senior is also extremely smart as he will graduate as his class' valedictorian in May.

But Yawn wants to play college basketball. Sounds odd coming from a 5-foot-8 athlete who did not play high school basketball. In fact, the closest he has come to basketball is keeping stats for Demonettes head coach Tom Mobley.

However, Yawn may have his chance. He will be attending the California Institute of Technology, one of the best schools in the nation (can anyone argue with a faculty that has 31 Nobel Prizes?).

But while Caltech is known for its academic standards, the basketball standards are ... well ... pretty low. The team was featured in a recent Time article not because it is any good. The Beavers, a Division III program, have lost 273 consecutive Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference games since 1985. According to the Time article, which ran Feb. 29, just eight of the Beavers' 15 players played on their high school team.

"I've been in contact with their coach (Roy Dow)," Yawn said Monday morning. "It is a possibility."

But what about all the losing?

"No one goes to Caltech to play basketball. They come for the education. Basketball is just for fun."

Jesse Hicks leaves or not?

It was a turbulent day in Milledgeville on Tuesday when Baldwin head coach Jesse Hicks reconsidered his resignation. He told me he turned in the letter Monday, but had a change of heart when more than 100 supporters showed up to change his mind.

I've heard rumblings about Hicks having interest in openings, largely because he wanted to become an athletics director. Baldwin doesn't currently have one, but Hicks is hoping the board will give him a shot. The board would be making a huge mistake if it doesn't create that position. Allowing Hicks to leave would be a huge blow to the community. Hicks is a solid football coach. But more importantly, he is a good person and he cares about his players. He has got 37 of them college scholarships in six years. No Middle Georgia coach can claim that high of a rate. But if the board doesn't come up with something, I think Hicks will eventually leave.

Going too far

I have an extreme amount of passion for my teams. When I'm watching them on TV, I'll yell when they do something good or scream at the refs when they make a bad call.

But sometimes fans take it too far.

This is my second day of covering the GHSA Final Four at the Macon Coliseum. Where I have been sitting on press row (the closest I can to the wireless router) have been where the loudest and most passionate fans seem to be. While it has given me a headache the past two nights, I have to admit, it is good to see people passionate about high school sports.

But the East Laurens student section said things to Lovett players that were highly inappropriate. One of those times was when a handful of fans called one of the Lovett's player's mother a hooker. And then proceeded to say stuff I won't type.

I didn't mind the chanting, "air ball," or telling the Lovett players to go home. But degrading someone's mom is going too far.

I covered East Laurens once this year at home and I thought their fans were the most passionate I had seen. And I'm not saying all Falcons fans are this way. But I also know what I heard and in an environment where young kids are around, that is not a good message to send.

I'm not saying to not cheer or encourage your team. But show a little class when you do.